Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Canada is seeking an Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives to oversee new strategic partnerships and initiatives within the Department of Computer Science. The role requires a strong leader with at least 10 years of experience in strategy development, proven success in revenue generation, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a full-time contract with compensation in the range of $120,499 - $140,583.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in strategy, business development or management consulting.
• Strong understanding of technology and R&D landscape.
• Experience securing complex agreements with government and industry.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for strategic development and partnerships.
• Manage operational support for long-term initiatives.
• Cultivate relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Entrepreneurial leadership

Problem-solving

Verbal communication

Written communication

Analytical skills

Education

Postgraduate degree

Job description

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Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives

Date Posted: 11/28/2025
Req ID:46220
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Dept of Computer Science
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.
We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

Established in 1964, the Department of Computer Science is ranked among the top computer science departments in the world. Our faculty have been presented with a wide variety of honours and awards over the years, including two Turing Awards, and many other national and international honours. We provide diverse programs and research opportunities while consistently producing high-impact research that is among the most highly cited in computer science.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Department of Computer Science is expanding its presence, domestically and internationally, by developing a broad partnership network, with the goal of achieving a large number of deeply intertwined, meaningful collaborative projects between our faculty and industry partners. These new partnerships will allow faculty members to expand their collaborative networks and will also enhance student experience by developing opportunities for students to connect with industry.

Reporting to the Director of Administration, with a dotted line to the Academic Director, Strategic Initiatives, the Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives has oversight for the strategy, development and expansion of initiatives under the unit’s portfolio. The incumbent also has full managerial oversight of the administrative staff unit providing operational support, with a view to ensuring that long-term initiatives central to the Department’s priorities can advance successfully.

Critical to the success of the strategic initiatives’ portfolio, the Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives will foster the strongest possible connections with both internal and external stakeholders. This is with the goal of meeting initiative as well as positioning the Department of Computer Science as a thought leader central to building the digital economy in Canada.

The Associate Director is responsible for cultivating external relationships to generate new opportunities that are mutually beneficial to both external stakeholders and the academic mission of the Department of Computer Science. Work includes cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships across institutional, governmental, sectoral and geographic borders; creating a strategy for bringing together and serving researchers from varied internal and external partners and CS faculty members to create an engaged academic community of affiliates; creating novel research opportunities; positioning for research and innovation funding, particularly government funding; and establishing a framework to support and advance student engagement with industry through research or employment opportunities.

This position collaborates with internal University units, such as the University’s Innovations & Partnerships Office, the Arts & Science Research Services Office, and the Arts & Science Office of Advancement to achieve outcomes and meet stakeholder needs.

The Associate Director will provide managerial oversight of staff in this group, whose responsibilities include: full project management and support of each initiative, identifying new opportunities relevant to stakeholders that benefit the academic mission and programs in the Department of Computer Science, negotiating contracts and agreements that include both external and internal stakeholders, and development of grant applications and awards. It is expected that the incumbent will lead the creation and implementation of new roles within the group that are designed to best support its stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Postgraduate degree (e.g., Public Policy, Business Administration, Computer Science, Education Administration, or related discipline), or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A project management and/or financial management certificate is highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in industry/government/academic settings in areas such as strategy, business development, venture management, or management consulting, with proven success in revenue generation.
• Proven record securing & operationalizing complex agreements with government and industry, and leading large and complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience systematizing processes and building scalable operating models. Demonstrated effectiveness in developing operational, financial and staffing plans, and structures to support organizational growth potential.
• Experience managing and leading staff, preferably in a unionized environment.
• Strong understanding of the technology and research & development landscape domestically and internationally. Familiarity with the research funding ecosystem in Canada, particularly government funding frameworks.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, forecasts, and financial models that align with strategic objectives and comply with institutional and sponsor requirements. Proven ability to conduct cost-benefit analysis, prepare business cases, and deliver financial reporting for complex initiatives, including risk assessments, performance dashboards, and revenue diversification strategies.
• Experience writing business documents (such as complex business contracts) and compiling statistical reports and settling the financial and business terms of commercialization agreements.
• Successful experience with entrepreneurial ventures and business development.

Skills

• Entrepreneurial and transformational leadership skills, with ability to conduct market research, qualify leads, and operationalize initiatives that create sustainable value.
• Well-developed problem-solving and negotiation skills to create a call to action, reframe constraints, secure buy-in, and achieve successful outcomes.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with ability to communicate persuasively and clearly to all levels of the organization and partners across domains, including business, academia, and government.
• Ability to execute autonomously at the project, program, and department level; can translate a high-value goal into actionable plans and implement processes that enhance efficiency, accountability, and scalability across the initiative lifecycle.
• Ability to build trust and sustain high value relationships, navigate a variety of bureaucracies, and align diverse interests toward shared outcomes.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with ability to grasp new domains quickly and be conversant in describing complex concepts to non-specialist audiences across many fields.

Other

• Ability to work at the highest strategic levels to gain and maintain the respect of individuals at all levels, both internal and external to the University.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and collegial manner, with a strong appreciation for the challenges and opportunities for working within a large, decentralized organization.
• High level of political acuity, initiative, tact, sound judgment, and diplomacy.
• A highly responsive work style, with precise and rapid turn‑around in response to requests and urgent high-priority items.
• Demonstrated capacity to identify emerging issues, set priorities, and manage change effectively.
• Ability to work well both individually and as part of a team with all levels of faculty, staff and students in a manner that engenders cooperation
• Proven ability to build team support and to develop cooperative, collegial working relationships with a broad range of University and external constituencies.
• Strong ability to quickly grasp complex processes and procedures and develop a comprehensive understanding of research administration policies and practices in a University environment.
• Ability to learn continually ‘on‑the‑job’ in a dynamic work environment, on own initiative, often without prior training or instructions, to keep abreast of the rapid changes in the research environment.
• Must have the ability to work with a broad range of internal and external information systems and tools.

Closing Date

12/08/2025,11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:PM 5 -- Hiring Zone: $120,499 - $140,583 -- Broadband Salary Range: $120,499 - $200,831
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].